Low Interest Loans for Illegal Aliens
WKOW-TV
May 16, 2005
Wisconsin's housing authority, or WHEDA, is the first state in the nation to implement a program offering low interest loans to illegal aliens, or "undocumented workers". Now some Madison alders want the City to implement a similar program. Madison's program would allow the approved applicants to get a low interest loan for up to 95% of the home cost. Other low income residents can get 100% of the cost of a home financed with a Community Development Block Grant through the city.
"In a very real way with the modern economy, immigrants are here to stay and I think we ought to be supporting then in trying to live good lives for themselves and their families." Says Austin King. He supports the proposal because he says it's not about immigration, it's about helping people, and illegal immigrants work low paying jobs, pay taxes through a federal ID number, but are not eligible for any benefits, like social security.
But State Senator Glenn Grothman of West Bend says the idea is "almost comical". He says it's absurd to offer assistance to people who are in the country illegally. "What type of message are we sending to people?" He says. "We're telling the border guards we don't appreciate their job. We're telling the people that inspect local business that we don't care what they do. We're telling anybody who is waiting to get into this country legally that they're a bunch of suckers for trying to obey the law. It's absolutely comical."
Grothman has authored legislation that would force WHEDA to stop granting the loans. He says he is considering adding an amendment that would also ban cities from Madison from offering them as well.